Vault-handling machine



Dec. 7 1926. Q 1,609,625

w. F. LAWES VAULT HANDLING MACHINE Filedsept. 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W INVENTOR.

* A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 7 1926. 1,609,625

v w. F. LAWES VAULT HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept 12 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 iii-J- 7 IN EN R' TOR Y.

Dec. 7 11926. 1,609,625

w. F. LAWES VAULT HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 "Mazes-5am INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 7, 1926 UNETED STATES moans QFFECE.

VAULT-HAJDLING IVEACHINE.

Application filed Septcmber 12, 1924.

This invention relates to devices for raising, lowering, transporting and otherwise handling concerte burial vaults.

Such vaults are generally cast at a factory, and are then shipped by railroad, or over the ordinary roads to a cemetery where they are left.

As they are very heavy, it requires a large number of men to transport them to a grave and lower them into place.

My device is especially arranged so that a frame carried by suitable wheels and provided with suitable lifting devices can be moved over such a vault, whereby the vault can be raised from the ground sufficiently to allow the. frame with the vault to be pushed over an-open grave.

The vault can then be lowered by means of the lifting apparatus, into position in the ground, after which the device can be moved away. 7

It can also be used however to pick up a vault at the factory and then be hooked on behind a truck or automobile and carried directly to the cemetery where it can be pushed by hand over the grave, and operated as above stated.

My device can also be used for lifting vaults, etc. from graves and it can be used to advantage in setting small monuments and markers in position.

My device with its load can be rolled on and off a truck by means of skids and suitable tackle.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective View from the side showing an open grave, with my devicecarrying a vault in position thereover. v

I Fig. 2 is an elevation from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation from the left, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view from the left of Fig. 1 showing one of the lifting shafts.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the axle bearing from the side.

Fig. 6 is a detail from the rear.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing how the vault cover can be lowered into place.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modification.

In the drawings, A represents the ground and G represents a grave therein.

W, W, are Wheels which are shown as of the automobile pneumatic tired type but may be of any type.

Serial No. 737,424.

Each of these wheels is carried by an axle such as 30, and supports the frame F which is preferably of rectangular form and constructed of tubing, sheet metal or any other suitable material.

As shown it comprises the sides 46 and 47 from the ends of which, extending towards each other, are the divided ends 48, 49 and 40, 41. In my preferred construction each part of each end is adjustably connected to the other part by an adjusting plate 42 and bolts 43. By changing the size of this plate 42 and frame can be widened or narrowed to accommodate vaults of difierent widths.

As shown I use diagonal side braces 45 which extend down to near the axle of each wheel and are connected by plate 36.

The axle supporting braces 44 also extend down near the axle, and carry a web plate 32 with a slot 33for the axle 30 which is fixed thereto by a nut 34.

Another web plate 36 is fixed to each brace 45 and has a slot 37 for the other end of axle 30 which is held, therein by a plate 30 38, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Any other suitable means of attaching the wheels revolubly to the frame may be used.

Extending across the top of frame F are parallel lifting shafts B and C. Each lifting shaft is revoluble in suitable bearings such as 50, 50 and 60, 60, and each carries two drums such as 52, 53 or 62, 63, and also a sprocket such as 54 or 64.

The sprockets 54 and 64 are connected by an endless chain 18 and they, as well as drums 52 and 62, are fixed to their respective shafts B or C.

The other drum 53 or 63 on each shaft however is slidable on its shaft which has a key-way or slot such as 51 or 61, this drum being adapted to be locked in position thereon by a key such as 57. This construction is well shown in Fig. 4.

The purpose of the slot is that when the frame is widened or narrowed the drums 53 and 63 can be brought from or towards the drums 52 and 62, as shown in Fig. 4.

The end of shaft C carries a large gear 10, the teeth of which mesh with a small gear 11 provided with means by which it may be manually turned, shown as a crank 13 with a handle 12. By means of a dog or pawl 14 these gears may be locked in any desired position, as when transporting a vault such as V.

The four cables such as 56, 55, 66, and 65,

are wound on the drums 52 53, 62 63, and the ends may be provided with suitable hooks and eyes such as 4 and 5 in Fig. 3 whereby they can be passed under a vault V and connected above it sothat when lowered into position the hook and eye can be separated, and the cables easily withdrawn.

To prevent tipping while lowering the vault I provide tour props P, each pivoted at .a-corner 20f frame F, which can be extended to hold the framesteady. Vr'hile the device is moving these can rest in the hooks such as 1'.

As shown in Fig. 7 the vault cover H pref erably is provided with hooks or handles 70 under which a rod '71 with loops 72 at each end can be passed, and the cables can be passed through these loops '72 for lowering.

Such a rod 'il can be of such length that its loops extend out nearly -01 quite far as the width olthe vault Vsothat the hoist-- ing cables w'll run straight and not at an angle, or in place ot' the rod the movable drums such and 63 can be moved in or out on their respective shafts so that the cables will :drop straight and have no ten dency to kink or overlap.

lVhere the device is to be used for transporting any conside able distance, I prefer to provide rigid stirrups K having two parallel sides connected a rigid bar whereby they are made rigid, pivoted at the points 80 and 81 so that they can be swung up out of the way as shown by the dotted lines, when not in use or swung down uncer the vault as shown by the full lines in 8, when they are in use.

By means of brace hooks 82 and 86 each pivoted to the frame as atSS, and having a point such as 8% which passes through an eye 85 in each stirrup the swaying of the vault is prevented, and my d vice can be carried along the highway with its load with great speed.

M in Fig. 8 shows the means by which it can be attached as a trailer to a truck.

It is obvious that other means may be used to adjust the width or" the frame and other means such as a shaft and goals may be used to turn the parallel shafts together.

I claim:

1. In a vault handling device, the combination with two parallel wheels; of a split frame laterally adiustable in width and supported by the wheels; parallel litt-ing shaits, each provided with a hey-way and revoluble in said frame; a drum and a sprocket wheel *urried by each shaft: a :econd drum slidahlc on each shat't, auda removable key which connects it with the lie -way; an endless chain between the sprockets; a large gear carried by one shaft; :1 smallv gear in engagement with the large gear means toturn the small gear; cables wound on said drums; toll liable props pivoted to the frame; and rigid rrups pivoted inthe frame; together with brace hooks for salt. slirrups also pivoted in the frame.

In a vault handling device, the combination with two parallel wheels; of a frame supported by said wheels; parallel lifting" shafts; a fixed drum carried by each shaft; a second drum slidable on and revoluble with each shaft; manually operable means to revolve such shafts; together with cables wound on said drums; foldable props pivto the frame; and rigid stirrups piv- V t in the frame together with brace hooks for said stirrups also pivoted in the frame.

3. In a vault handling device, the combination with two parallel wheels; ot-a frame supported by said wheels; parallel lifting shafts; a fixed druin carried by each shaft; :1 second druin slidable on and revoluble with each shaft; i'nanually operable means to revolve such shafts; and cables wound on said drums.

4-. In a unit handling device the combination with two parallel wheels; of a "frame supported by the wheels; manually operable ittine' means including two depending cables: told-aide props pivoted to the frame; and rigid stirrups pivoted in the f1'aine;iogrether with detachable means for holding said stirrups in position.

Vi ILLIi-tld FREDERICK LAlVES. 

